Every yogi needs their style inspiration! Dressing in our most comfortable and attractive clothes during a practice makes things fun and can also boost self-confidence. Here are 4 yoga instructors from across the globe, each with a unique take on yoga apparel for both comfort and style.

1.) B.K.S. Iyengar

This master yogi, born in India in 1918, is one of the most widely read and respected yoga teachers of the 20th and the 21st century. B.K.S. truly mastered the art of yoga during his time, and inspired thousands of students the world over.

What can we learn from B.K.S.’s apparel choices? Tradition and the basics. B.K.S. typically wore a traditional Indian dhoti for practice. A dhoti can be described as a long piece of fabric wrapped around the waist—it typically doesn’t cover more than the groin area. This style is characterized by minimalism and freedom, leaving most of the body unhindered by apparel.

2.) Bikram Choudhury

Another Indian master of yoga, Bikram is the founder of Bikram Yoga, or hot yoga as many Westerners know it. Bikram’s fashion style is definitely a riff on older masters such as B.K.S. Iyengar—for his classes, he typically wears no more than a pair of breathable yoga underwear.

While these styles are minimalist to be sure, there’s a lot to be learned from these masters. Especially for styles like Bikram, less really is more! Yoga is all about freeing our bodies and getting in touch with our physicality, and while practicing in the nude isn’t up everyone’s alley, paring down the amount of clothing you wear during practice can be a great option.

3.) Ali Kamenova

Ali Kamenova is an L.A. based teacher who instructs classes all over the world. Her style is characterized by bright colors, self-expression, and fun. Her wardrobe includes ankle bangles, American flag patterned leggings, colorful head scarves, and leg warmers.

Ali is a great inspiration for female yogis who want to look in the mirror and feel their unique selves reflected back. She doesn’t follow any rules when it comes to apparel, and a scroll through her Instagram page displays her love for all kinds of yoga apparel. She is great inspiration for the fun-loving, youthful yogis out there.

4.) Sianna Sherman

Finally, Sianna Sherman is a great inspiration for minimalist female yogis. She has a pretty basic approach to yoga apparel—you can typically find her wearing block colors, and she sticks to short-sleeved, loose-fitting tanks and snug leggings. For the yogi who doesn’t want to put too much thought into her looks, while still feeling confident and beautiful on the mat, Sianna is the icon for you.

What we wear on the mat makes such a difference in how we feel and experience yoga. Even more, it can make or break our self-confidence, especially for those who practice in front of the mirror. Find your inspiration—there’s no shame in splurging on makes you most content.

Many women are nowadays stressed out and filled with despair due to the so-called modern lifestyles. Women are called the “backbones” of families and manage the households efficiently and proficiently like well-oiled engines.

Let us tackle these challenges and learn what women can do to reduce dejection and emotional tantrums.

Yogic Meditation

Yoga meditation is just a simple way to connect with one’s soul in order to become smoother and more serene. A person like that is mostly more proficient, superior at her job, attractive and reliable.

Regular yogic meditation classes of at least 15 minutes each day will enable a woman to relieve all her stress, social problems and bring a massive emotional strength. It also helps them be aware of all the negativity of stressful thoughts, actions, and words.

Surya Namaskar and Fitness

Depression in women is an outcome of a detrimental mind and body. A practice of Surya Namaskar will help in bringing the mind into a tranquil condition. A whole Surya Namaskar should be done for at least 10-15 minutes to gain the utmost advantage of it.

Yoga aids in a positive approach chosen for healthy physical being and connects oneself to its source. You should be very particular about your apparels while performing asana (a set of postures). Clothes have become a necessary part which cannot be ignored. Do keep in mind the style of yoga you’ll be doing when you shop for yoga wear. For example, when it comes to Hot Yoga, shop for shorter bottoms and sleeveless upper wear.

Get the Right Fit

Comfort should be the major concern when picking out workout leggings for women. Avoid wearing stuff that is too big or revealing. Ladies should watch out for their tops that might look extra wide at the armpits. At the same time, don’t wear clothes that are too tight or off-putting. You should feel absolutely free to move through the positions of asana.

Shorts are favored so that you can see where your knees are in the right position to your feet and ankles. Most women prefer to wear tank tops made of cotton when they do yoga. Tank tops have a snug fit and thus help in soaking up the sweat more promptly and efficiently. Avoid loose tee shirts when doing yoga as they have a propensity to get in the way of movement, especially if they are not made of stretchable fabric.

Fitness wear is typically the best, as it’s designed especially for moving your whole body for stretching. Look for wicking fabric and styles that are form-fitting and comfy. Yoga pants, or stretchy (preferably black) athletic pants, can be found easily at any sporting goods store. One should wear comfortable clothes to perform yoga practice which will ultimately help in relieving stress, particularly for women.

Thus, yoga practice helps in building up a healthy body and relaxed mind. It is important for women who are leading hectic lives to have some time for them and look for yoga sessions which they can attend for their spiritual and physical well-being.

Spend most of your times hunched over your keyboard or looking down at your smartphone?

You’re not alone. The modern world demands us to do so. Whether it’s sitting at your desk, sweeping the floor, driving your car or folding your laundry, all of these are patterns that cause our backs to hunch over. We are so busy making a living, going places and filling up our responsibilities, that we oftentimes forget how having a hunched back affects us physically and emotionally.

The muscles across our shoulders and at the back of our neck are strained and this can most likely lead to back pain and headache. Taking deep breaths can be a challenge as the space surrounding the chest is compressed because the shoulders are rounded forward.

Emotionally, we tend naturally to protect the most important part of us, our heart. Having a hunchback suggests insecurities and a lack of trust within ourselves and the people who surround us. It hinders our emotions and our creativity.

Here are some incredible benefits of practicing backbends:

Backbends are called heart opener for a reason. It releases tensions both on the physical and spiritual body, opening more space on the chest, creating more room for emotions. Opening our hearts, exposing our most vulnerable organs and developing our courage, compassion and creativity.

Develop mobility of the spine. We spend most of our days stuck sitting, typing, doing what we have to do to survive. But what we don’t realize is how detrimental it is to our spine. By doing backbends, we counteract the hunchback effect these routines causes, developing its flexibility and mobility.

Posture is corrected. Stand taller. Practicing backbends develops awareness. We become mindful of how we align our back while getting through our day sitting or walking. Proper posture eases pain in the back and neck.

A simple dose of happiness. Doing backbends stretches the whole front of our body, stimulating the nervous system. It relieves stress, improves mood and boosts energy levels. It’s amazing how backbends can be like a natural energy shot!

Opens the heart. When threatened, we curl ourselves inward. Doing backbends feels like literally exposing your heart to risks. With practice, one learns to trust. Being vulnerable is a positive thing. It opens our hearts to emotions and experiences we fear, and allows our creativity to flow freely.

Keep it aligned!

For one to experience all these gifts, the posture has to be properly executed. We want to experience it all safely. So flow with good intention. Be mindful of your body. Approach with composure and stay focused on your breathing.

Make sure to prepare the body. Warm up before doing backbends. A solid foundation is the key to properly hold the posture. Never allow your knees to flare out. Use your inner thighs’ internal rotation. Imagine your inner thighs are rotating in and towards to the floor. This helps the lower back broaden and stops the sacrum from clenching. Lengthen your spine. Do not look upwards but straight ahead to avoid straining the back of the neck. Imagine your sternum is tied to a string and it’s pulling you up.

Remember, never force the body to do anything that hurts. Tune in with good intention and patience. With regular practice, backbends will come naturally. Be open to possibilities. And most importantly, have fun! If you like the look featured in the above image, you can find these workout clothes and compression pants here.